Designations

National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the nation's list of historic properties worthy of preservation. Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register supports public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect historic and archaeological properties of local, state, or national significance.

Alaska Landmark Register

The Alaska Historic Preservation Act created an Alaska Landmark Register. The Alaska Historical Commission, the state review board, has established criteria and a process to create a list of properties important to the state's past. All properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places are Alaska Landmarks.

Incentives

Grants

Ten percent of the annual Historic Preservation Fund grant to Alaska is for Certified Local Government (CLG) projects. The Office of History and Archaeology solicits applications, and the Alaska Historical Commission reviews them based on priorities it establishes and makes recommendations of awards to the State Historic Preservation Officer. Survey, inventory, preservation planning, National Register nomination, public preservation education, predevelopment, development and acquisition projects are eligible for program funds.

On occasion, the Office of History and Archaeology has Historic Preservation Fund grants for owners to assist with predevelopment and development work on historic properties. These funds are for properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places. When available, a call for project proposals is advertised statewide. The Alaska Historical Commission reviews the applications and makes recommendations of awards to the State Historic Preservation Officer. More information on these grants can be found here.

Federal Tax Credits

The Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit gives a 20% tax credit (not just a deduction) to owners who rehabilitate certified historic buildings in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. The Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit is based on a percentage of the rehabilitation costs.

Mission Statement

"The Alaska Office of History and Archaeology (OHA) and State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) provide programs to encourage the preservation and protection of the archaeological, historic, and architectural resources of Alaska."